The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-08-11

O6sesver speaks Of DR.. Battle in the
highest terms and expresses the desire
to seee him ehscted by the Board to. the
position Of Slate Chemist, 1T puts
forth the sound doctrine that other
things being equal, the position should
go to a native North Carolinian. We
have often felt mortified at the seem
ing indifference and neglect, with
Dur State regarded its talented
sons and: especially its young men.
We know nothing Of the qualifications
of DR.. Battle for the highly important
and responsible position of State
Chemist, and cannot therefore@com-
mend or oppose him. We will say,
however, with the most earnest en-
.phasis, that if he is qualified and COM
petent,1 none would hail his promotion
with more real. pleasure than The
PROGRESSIVE EARMER.S5 But we must
not forget that in the organization Of
the Agricultural and Mechanical Col.
5.leege, it is more than probable, it is al
most certain, thatsin addition to the
already Important duties devolving
upon the State Chemist, viii be dded
those Of Professor Of Chemistry in the
College. With an eye, therefore, to
the usefulness and success of the Col
lege, we ask the members of the Board
to elect to that position a man of I'M
doubted capacity to meet and perform
it's varied and responsible duties. If
such a man shall be found in our
State, we would all rejoice, but we
should allow no feelings Of favorite-
ism, of personal friendship, or of mere
policy, to govern u action in a mat
ter of such great Importance to the in
dustries of the State. If North Caro-
lima can furnish the best ma for the
place, by all means let us have him,
but if such a man cannot be found
here, let us not hesitate a moment to
go outside and get him. We need
the best man and must have him,
wherever he may come from. We
want a man too, who is in full SYM
pathy with the progressive dea of in
dustrial education-one who will be
thoroughly in accord with the work
of our Agricultural College. The
farmers of the State and the friends
of industrial education and progress,
will look with earnest interest to the
action of the Board in filing the
office in which they + all directly
and deeply interested. To them it is
the most important of all the Offices
connected with these institutions.
Apart from these considerations, it
is not amiss to remind the Board that
the action of a majority of the mem
bers in the matter of electing a Com
missioner in April last is yet fresh in
the minds of the people. The Pro
GREss1vE FARMER, as the organ of the
farmers, and in the most respectful
manner, presented what it knew to be
the views and sentiments of the most
intelligent farmers Of the State, as to
the election of a Commissioner, but it's
voice was unheeded and the wishes Of
the people utterly disregarded, and as
we assured them would be the case,
almost universal dissatisfaction exists
throughout the State.
The PROGRESSIVE FARMER is anxious
ly DESTROYS of aiding the department
in every way possible to enlarge it's
usefulness and to bring it up to that
point where the farmers of the State
will proudly recognize it as their insti-
tuition, and it would be untrue to it.
self and to the department and to the
farmers of the State, if it did not say
frankly and candidly that nothing in
its history has done so much to weaken
it in public confidence as the action of
the board referred to.
Whatever else it may do, we hope
r. LlA-.l.-e H. n~--L---a II -